Ruby Vase Parrotia

If you need a tree that looks like a designer piece of furniture for your yard, the Ruby Vase Persian Ironwood is the answer. While the standard Persian Ironwood can be a bit wild and spreading, the 'Ruby Vase' variety is perfectly behaved, maintaining a tight, upright, vase-shaped silhouette. This makes it a premier choice for narrow side yards, framing entryways, or adding vertical interest without encroaching on your neighbor's air space.

The "Ruby" in its name comes alive in the fall when the foliage transforms into a breathtaking palette of brilliant reds, oranges, and golds. But the show starts much earlier; in late winter or very early spring, before the leaves emerge, the branches are tipped with unique, witch-hazel-like red flowers that provide a rare pop of color against the snow. As the tree matures, its bark begins to exfoliate in patches of silver, green, and cream—a trait that makes it just as interesting to look at in the winter as it is in the summer. It’s also incredibly "iron-tough," resisting most pests, diseases, and urban stress with ease.